Funny Story

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I learned something the other day.  I was welding aluminum which I'm not that good at yet.  Anyway.  I was having the worst time with the weld puddle getting contaminated.  checked gas flow, wire brushed it, acetone, brake cleaner, etc.  No luck  went from 5356 to 4043(?) rod to see if it made a difference.  Nothing.  Sometimes it was ok, but only for a very short while.  also sometimes I would just lose the arc.  Bang gone.  Anyway, I pushed through just to get it done.  I'm cleaning up my machine coiling the tig torch and hose.  The connector that plugs into the machine just falls off.  damn hose had come unscrewed and I couldn't see it because of the plastic cover.  I'm pretty sure I was only getting a tiny bit of the argon I should have been getting out of my torch.  And why I was losing the arc sometimes.  Anyway, learned to check fittings more closely.  By the way I''ve had similar lessons before.  Just have to beat it into my head multiple times.
Reply:I have pinched off the water hoses with my workstool when I moved it and the foot landed on the welding lead. WC torches smell funny when you smoke them......And then, after so much work...... you have it in your hand, and you look over to your side...... and the runner has run off. Leaving you holding the prize, wondering when the runner will return.
Reply:Yeah I pinched off water cooled torches a couple times. It's kinda disturbing when you're welding something and all of a sudden your leg is burning! It gives a liitle hint just befor the steam ruptures the line. The torch will start twitching in your hand from the water boiling in it. After it happens the first time you never forget that feeling. Even the slightest torch twitch makes me jump.
Reply:Using brake cleaner is a bad idea for something that your planning on welding too, can give off phosgene gas.  Nasty stuffHave we all gone mad?
Reply:Only the triclorethylene type brake cleans (which are getting harder and harder to find).  Acetone based brake cleans are ok.
Reply:I use acetone or denatured alchohol and avoid the caustic automotive cleaners altogether.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op